Charles James Dalbiac

He was descended from the ancient French Marquis d'Albiac who had large possessions in the South of France.The family name of Dalbiac or D'Albiac is said to be derived from Albi, the capital of the country of the Albigenses, which was destroyed in the religious crusade against that people in the 13th century. The Dalbiacs fled from there to Nismes.

Charles' father was a colonel in the 12th French army but the family were Huguenots and forced to leave France following the revocation of the Edict Of Nantes in 1685. One account claims that Charles and his brother were smuggled out of the country in a hamper.

He was married twice - firstly to Susanna De Visme in 1759, by whom he had 1 child, and then to Anne Le Bas, by whom he had 3 further children. He lived at Hungerford Park, a large estate in Berkshire. It was formerly the residence of the Barons Of Hungerford. The mansion was of Italian style and built by Queen Elizabeth for Robert Devereux, Earl Of Essex.

He died in 1808 and is buried in Christs Church, Spitalfields. The pictures below are of a mourning pin, probably made for his wife or daughter. The centre swivels to reveal pearls surrounding a piece of his hair.